Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Managing Medical Tubing

ABSTRACT

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a garment comprising a pouch, wherein the garment is adapted to partially cover a torso of a child patient. In certain exemplary embodiments, the garment is not constructed to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts. The garment can comprise at least one strap. The at least one strap can be constructed to support a weight of the garment and medical paraphernalia placed in the garment when the at least one strap is placed around a neck of the child patient. The pouch can be constructed to hold the medical paraphernalia. The medical paraphernalia can be attached to the child patient. The pouch can be constructed to resist a gravitational pull of the medical paraphernalia and thereby reduce discomfort of the child patient.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/945,764 (Attorney Docket No. 2564-03), filed 27 Feb. 2014.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 6000; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a garment comprising a pouch, wherein the garment is adapted to partially cover a torso of a child patient. In certain exemplary embodiments, the garment is not constructed to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts. The garment can comprise at least one strap. The at least one strap can be constructed to support a weight of the garment and medical paraphernalia placed in the garment when the at least one strap is placed around a neck of the child patient. The pouch can be constructed to hold the medical paraphernalia. The medical paraphernalia can be attached to the child patient. The pouch can be constructed to resist a gravitational pull of the medical paraphernalia and thereby reduce discomfort of the child patient.

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a garment adapted for use in retaining and/or restraining medical tubing. The garment can be adapted to cover a portion of the torso of a patient, such as a child undergoing medical treatment. The garment can comprise a pouch adapted to retain and/or restrain medical tubing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000, which can comprise a garment 1100 adapted to cover a portion of a torso 1600 of a patient 1300. Garment 1100 can comprise straps 1200 adapted to be wrapped around a neck 1800 of patient 1300 to provide comfort and support for garment 1100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, straps 1200 are adapted to be tied behind the head of patient 1300. In other embodiments, straps 1200 can be fastened by clasps, strings, and/or hook and loop fasteners, etc.

Garment 1100 can comprise a Pouch 1400, which can be adapted to receive medical tubing or appurtences to medical tubing. Pouch 1400 can be adapted to be positioned on the surface of garment 1100 touching the skin or on the surface of garment 1100 not touching the skin. In certain exemplary embodiments, garment 1100 can be reversible. In certain exemplary embodiments, garment 1100 can be made from an elasticized material adapted to conform to varying size patients. In other embodiments garment 1100 can be fabricated from a relatively inelastic material and can be sized to uniquely fit a patient of a particular size. The use of garment 1100 can improve comfort of a patient by reducing gravitational pull of medical paraphernalia 1500 (e.g., medical tubing and appurtenances) thereto on the skin of patient 1300. Absent support, such as via garment 1100, the gravitational pull of medical paraphernalia 1500 can cause discomfort to patient 1300. Certain exemplary embodiments are fabricated specifically for children and are not constructed to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts. Other embodiments can be fabricated to provide support for breasts of adolescent or adult females.

Garment 1100 can comprise pouch 1400. Garment 1100 can be adapted to partially cover a torso of patient 1300, which can be a child. Garment 1100 can be constructed so as not to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts. Garment 1100 can be made from an elasticized material adapted to conform to varying size patients. Garment 1100 can comprise at least one strap 1200. At least one strap 1200 can be constructed to support a weight of garment 1100 and medical paraphernalia 1500 placed in garment 1100 when at least one strap 1200 is placed around a neck of patient 1300. Pouch 1400 can constructed to hold medical paraphernalia 1500. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can be attached to patient 1300. Pouch 1400 can be constructed to resist a gravitational pull of medical paraphernalia 1500 and thereby reduce discomfort of patient 1300. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can comprise medical tubing 1700, as illustrated. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can comprise appurtenances to medical tubing 1900. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can be incident to a cancer treatment. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can be incident to chemotherapy. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can comprise medical tubing 1700 inserted into a body of patient 1300. Medical paraphernalia 1500 can comprise medical tubing 1700, which can be inserted into a body of patient 1300 from a cancer treatment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000, which illustrates a different view of garment 1100 of FIG. 1. Pouch 1400 is illustrated from a different angle as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000, which can comprise a garment 3100 adapted to cover a portion of a torso of a patient 3300. Garment 3100 can comprise straps 3200 adapted to be wrapped around a neck of patient 3300 to provide comfort and support for garment 3100. Garment 3100 can comprise a pouch 3400, which can be adapted to receive medical tubing or appurtences to medical tubing. Certain exemplary embodiments can be particularly useful for children receiving cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Children receiving such cancer treatments can have tubes inserted into their bodies, which can cause discomfort due to pulling caused by gravity. By placing the tubing and/or appurtenances to the tubing into pouch 3400 of garment 3100, such discomfort can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000, which illustrates garments of three different sizes.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 5000, which illustrates garments of three different sizes.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 6000. At activity 6100, materials can be obtained for fabricating a garment. At activity 6200, a pouch can be fabricated and attached to the garment. The garment can be fabricated to comprise the pouch. The garment can be adapted to partially cover a torso of a child patient. The garment can be constructed to not provide support for adolescent or adult breasts. The garment can comprise at least one strap. The at least one strap can be constructed to support a weight of the garment and medical paraphernalia placed in the garment when the at least one strap is placed around a neck of the child patient. The pouch can be constructed to hold the medical paraphernalia. The medical paraphernalia can be attached to the child patient. The pouch can constructed to resist a gravitational pull of the medical paraphernalia and thereby reduce discomfort of the child patient. At activity 6300, the pouched garment can be provided to a patient. At activity 6400, tubing and/or appurtenances thereto can be placed in the pouch.

DEFINITIONS

When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition was amended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

-   -   a—at least one.     -   activity—an action, act, step, and/or process or portion         thereof.     -   adapted to—made suitable or fit for a specific use or situation.     -   adapter—a device used to effect operative compatibility between         different parts of one or more pieces of an apparatus or system.     -   adolescent—a person in the process of developing from a child         into an adult.     -   adult—person who is fully grown or developed.     -   and/or—either in conjunction with or in alternative to.     -   apparatus—an appliance or device for a particular purpose.     -   appurtenance—an accessory or other item associated with a         particular activity or system.     -   associate—to join, connect together, and/or relate.     -   attach—to fasten and/or join.     -   body—the physical structure of a person.     -   can—is capable of, in at least some embodiments.     -   cancer treatment—medical care given to a patient for cancer.     -   chemotherapy—the treatment of disease by the use of chemical         substances, especially the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and         other drugs.     -   child—a young human being below the age of puberty.     -   comprising—including but not limited to.     -   configure—to make suitable or fit for a specific use or         situation.     -   conform—to be or become similar in form.     -   connect—to join or fasten together.     -   constructed to—to be or become similar in form.     -   coupleable—capable of being joined, connected, and/or linked         together.     -   coupling—linking in some fashion.     -   cover—to be placed over or upon.     -   define—to establish the outline, form, or structure of.     -   device—a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.     -   discomfort—anything that is disturbing to or interferes with         comfort.     -   elasticized material—a substance that is capable of returning to         an original length, shape, etc., after being stretched,         deformed, compressed, or expanded.     -   fabricate—to construct.     -   frontal—of or relating to an anterior part of a human.     -   garment—an article of clothing.     -   gravitational pull—the attraction between a physical object with         mass and the earth caused by the mass of the physical object and         the mass of the earth.     -   hold—to bear, sustain, or support.     -   incident—something that occurs casually in connection with         something else.     -   insert—to introduce or cause to be introduced into the body of a         human.     -   install—to connect or set in position and prepare for use.     -   may—is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some         embodiments.     -   medical paraphernalia—equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used         in providing treatment for an illness or disorder.     -   medical tubing—a hollow, substantially cylindrical body of         metal, glass, rubber, or other material, used especially for         conveying or containing liquids or gases used in providing         treatment for an illness or disorder.     -   method—a process, procedure, and/or collection of related         activities for accomplishing something.     -   neck—the part of the body of a human that connects the head and         the trunk.     -   partially—relating to only a part; not general or complete.     -   patient—a person who is under medical care or treatment.     -   place—to put or set in a particular place and/or position.     -   plurality—the state of being plural and/or more than one.     -   pouch—a receptacle constructed to hold one or more articles.     -   prepubescent—relating to or in the period preceding puberty.     -   reduce—to make smaller in extent.     -   resist—to withstand an action or an effect of.     -   strap—a strip of material constructed to fasten and/or hold         things together.     -   substantially—to a great extent or degree.     -   support—to bear the weight of, especially from below.     -   system—a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles         of manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the         collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.     -   torso—the trunk of a human body.     -   tubes—hollow, substantially cylindrical bodies of metal, glass,         rubber, or other material, used especially for conveying or         containing liquids or gases.     -   varying size—to be different or changeable in physical extent.     -   via—by way of and/or utilizing.     -   weight—the force that gravitation exerts upon a body, equal to         the mass of the body times the local acceleration of gravity:         commonly taken, in a region of constant gravitational         acceleration, as a measure of mass.

Note

Still other substantially and specifically practical and useful embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detailed description and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

-   -   there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular         described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or         element, any particular sequence of activities, or any         particular interrelationship of elements;     -   no characteristic, function, activity, or element is         “essential”;     -   any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;     -   any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by         multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in         multiple jurisdictions; and     -   any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the         sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of         elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase “means for” is followed by a gerund.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a garment comprising a pouch, said garment adapted to partially cover a torso of a child patient, said garment not constructed to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts, said garment comprising at least one strap, said at least one strap constructed to support a weight of said garment and medical paraphernalia placed in said garment when said at least one strap is placed around a neck of said child patient, said pouch constructed to hold said medical paraphernalia, said medical paraphernalia attached to said child patient, said pouch constructed to resist a gravitational pull of said medical paraphernalia and thereby reduce discomfort of said child patient.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia comprises medical tubing.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia comprises appurtenances to medical tubing.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: said garment is made from an elasticized material adapted to conform to varying size patients.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia is incident to a cancer treatment.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia is incident to chemotherapy.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia comprises medical tubing inserted into a body of said child patient.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: said medical paraphernalia comprises medical tubing inserted into a body of said child patient from a cancer treatment.
 9. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: fabricating a garment comprising a pouch, said garment adapted to partially cover a torso of a child patient, said garment not constructed to provide support for adolescent or adult breasts, said garment comprising at least one strap, said at least one strap constructed to support a weight of said garment and medical paraphernalia placed in said garment when said at least one strap is placed around a neck of said child patient, said pouch constructed to hold said medical paraphernalia, said medical paraphernalia attached to said child patient, said pouch constructed to resist a gravitational pull of said medical paraphernalia and thereby reduce discomfort of said child patient. 